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Topic: [BoT 2002] Not to be outdone [open] (Read 187 times)

Camile was not about to let Secastyan Yeshevsky out-do her. After hearing about the grand re-opening gala at Durmstrang, and the move from Russia to Sweden, Camile decided that it was time for a celebration. Now Koldovstoretz was the only Russian school, as it should be. Good riddance, Durmstrang. In celebration, she had planned a dance for the students, and had even arranged for a special guest to show up and greet the school—Russian Minister of Magic, and Koldovstoretz alumnus, Kasimir Krupin. She knew Kasimir well enough. He had personally selected her to be Koldovstoretz headmisstress, and they had a good rapport. She was a strong supporter of his progressive policies and, as a muggleborn, appreciated the work he did for her kind. She hoped the students would be excited to see him speak for them.

The hall was decorated in silvers and rich purples. There were hundreds of candles lit to give the room a intimate kind of glow. Outside, in the courtyard, there were more candles burning, a dance floor set up, and a live band to play for the students. They were still setting up, but it was okay, because there would be a feast before the dance began.

Once the first year students were sorted and had returned to their appropriate tables, she stood and smiled at the students. “Welcome back to another fantastic year at Koldovstoretz.” Camile began. “This is a time for celebration! As many of you may have heard, our rival school has fled the country of Russia, making us the official Russian school of magic.” She said proudly. “As a celebration, once dinner is concluded, we will be having a dance outside in the courtyard. This is a time for fun and friendship, as we look forard to a new year here. Before we begin, however, I have one final treat for you. We have a special guest joining us tonight, Russian Minister of Magic, Kasmir Krupin….” She introduced him, and he came out to greet the students.

Kasmir was excited about the prospect of returning to his alma mater, to speak, for the first time, as Russian Minister of magic. He was happy about Durmstrang’s move to Sweden. He no-longer needed to worry about the school and it’s backwards policies. He could now focus on Koldovstoretz alone, and that made him very excited. He was somewhat nervous about speaking in front of the school, but he was always nervous before a speech. It was what kept him going. When he was introduced by the headmisstress Demir, he came out to the stage and smiled widely at the students.

“Thank you for the introduction, Miss Demir.” He said cordially, before turning to greet the students. “It certainly feels great to be back at my alma mater at this celebratory time.” He smiled. “I hope all of you had fantastic summers, and are ready for a new school year.” He liked to be personable when he was speaking. “Koldocstoretz has always been close to my heart, ever since I was a first year student, coming in from my muggle upbringing, and having no idea what was going on. Koldovstoretz took care of me, showed me a whole new world, made me feel safe. I look forward to focusing the ministry’s resources on a school that makes students of all backgrounds feel safe and secure, able to learn and grow into the fine witches and wizards that I’m certain you all will.”

After his summer in London, it felt nice to be back in a place where he felt secure as a muggleborn. He truly hoped that Koldovstoretz would continue to grow into a progressive place where students are treated with respect regardless of their upbringing. That was one of the things he was most proud of the school for. It really changed with the times, unlike Durmstrang. He knew he was saying it too much, but he was glad Durmstrang was gone, really. He was glad it was no-longer his problem. Durmstrang had always treated Kasmir with contempt, for obvious reasons, and Kasimir didn’t have a very good opinion of the school either.

“I’d like to raise a toast.” He said, picking up the glass of water on the podium. “To new beginnings, to progress, and to success…”

Xiang Wu had never been so excited for a start of term since the merge between Durmstrang and Koldovstoretz. Not only had he had a very uneventful summer, but this year he had been named Snezhny and he was very proud of his successes. He had always been a decent student and relatively good role-model, he thought. He got mostly good grades and tried his best to help people when they needed it. Even so, he was surprised. Surely there was an older student better suited for the role, yes? Either way, he was feeling a little haughty as he walked into the dining hall for the beginning of term feast. He had heard good things about what was going to happen tonight. Apparently, there was a celebration of sorts going on, for what, he didn’t really know.

As the headmistress began talking, Xiang Wu started to zone out a bit. So, this was about Durmstrang again? He didn’t understand the animosity between the schools, really. Durmstrang had been fine to him, save a few unsavory people. He’d met lots of pretty girls there and had really enjoyed spending time with them. Double the student body meant double the pickings, right? As someone who went through lots of girlfriends, this was a good thing for him. He hadn’t had that hard of a time there, either. Sorted into Klyk Vampira—the superior house—he had met a lot of interesting people and counted some of them among his friends, still. He had been a rich pureblood, though, and failed to take that into account. His muggleborn friends had a much harder time there, but that didn’t affect Xiang Wu, and so he didn’t think about it. He was blinded by his privilege. He perked up a bit when he heard about the dance. That sounded like fun.

Despite everything, Xiang Wu felt a little honored that the Russian minister himself came to speak to the school. Xiang Wu didn’t really follow politics—he was more interested in business, and only looked at things that might affect business—but he liked Kasimir good enough. While some of his fiscal policies rubbed Xiang Wu the wrong way, he appreciated him for being the first muggleborn minister in Russia, and he understood what a big deal that really was. He liked Koldo’s more progressive policies and thought they were more fair than Durmstrang’s strict rules, and he supposed he could get behind this celebration if everyone else was. He didn’t care, really, but he was happy that lots of people were happy.

He looked over at the Tigrova table, looking for Xue Zhi. He had seen her briefly over the summer, but she was as much of a spitfire as ever. She was playing hard to get, and while he loved that, it was also a little frustrating. He had been trying hard, and usually he got rewarded for his hard work. He had sent her six dozen white roses to her home at the beginning of summer, and a small trinket near the end—a ruby-encrusted tennis bracelet that he thought she might like. She seemed a ruby kind of girl, really. Red was the color of fire, and that’s what she was on the inside—all fire.

It was also her house color, so he thought she might be able to get away with wearing it at school. He had to plead with his father to let him buy it, as it was more expensive than his usual gifts, but he explained that she was his intended and that was enough for make Xiang Wu’s father agree. He supported the idea of Xiang Wu and Xue Zhi. After-all, he had been involved in making the match. He seemed encouraged that Xiang Wu had not given up on their failed engagement. Also, it was a reward for his shiny new school position. He wondered if Xue Zhi knew, or if she cared about it. Of course, she’d care. It gave him status. She seemed the ambitious type, so his status was probably something she considered when she rejected him. Maybe it was time he got un-rejected. Would she accept if he asked her to dance? He wondered, and waited.

He supposed there would be plenty of other girls to dance with, should she decline.

She was so excited, for her baby brother, Altun Aysoy's sorting was about to be announced. So far, Esmeray’s family had mostly been made up of Dom Rayasov. Only Esmeray and her mother, who she likes to believe she had nothing in common with had been part of Dom Tigrova. Esmeray hoped for her colorful younger brother dreams to indicate the qualities of the Tiger instead of the Owl. If it did, would balance the family more out, and she would get to watch over her brother for her last two years of school.

It did not take long for the first years to be lead in at the start of the event. Her brother Altun Aysoy was one of the first to be announced. Tigrova table cheered and Esmeray stood up in her formal outfit and welcomed him with wide arms. He ran to her and almost knocked her over with his bearhug. She laughed and directed him to sit… before giving her sister and shrug for an apology. Her sister cheered although without a much of a happy face. Esmeray found it was almost comical.

In truth Esmeray’s sister Nuray had a bad month. She got sick and was unable to attend Winter school. She was not picked as the Snegvoin of her house (passed up for Justýna Tesaříková ,) while Esmeray to her great surprise got the honor for her house's position. Altun becoming a Tigrova rather then a Rayavsov must have been the fly on the mountain's troll excrement to her. Esmeray felt bad for her sister, she really did, but it was hard to express it when so much was going right for Esmeray. Just yesterday Esmeray found out that her friend Konrad also made Dom Tigrova Snegvoin. Which mean Esmeray had all the excuse she needed to hang out with her best friend all day. Although it might be to help younger students pass, her parents nor her sister could not say anything now. Her parents had also backed off on the arrange marriage due to some interaction with purebloods boy she had lately… Apparently, they approved of her choices now and seemed resigned to wait a bit more. She was sure they still were hoping that some profitable alliance naturally forms. Esmeray would not mind getting a boyfriend if only to get her parents off her back but she had no intention of marrying... at least not now. She wanted to focus on spending time with her brother and possibilities of a career while she was still in school.

Apparently Esmeray table of older six year girls was not as fun as another, because Altun slipped out of his seat to join his younger Tigrova mates. Esmeray turned to her friends to complain but the crowd was hushed as Kolbrostorest’s Headmistress Demir stood up… It soon became apparent just they were required to dress formally and why she seemed to go above and beyond with the decorations. Even though Esmeray had made a friend or two in Durmstrang it did not stop her pride or cheers.

Additionally, it was an honor to have Russian Minister Kasimir Krupin here. Esmeray listened to his heart spoken words cheered with the others adding her own Turkish saying “Serefe.” She glanced at her brother to see if he was as taken by the Minister and was slightly horrified that he was entertaining his classmates with two cups pressed to his chest. Esmeray was about to get up and stop him when their plates appeared with food and the cups filled, included the two he had held against his now drenched shirt.

Esmeray laughed hysterically before relaxing back into her chair and focusing on her food and the table's conversation. The other Tigrova girls were mostly tittering excitedly about the dance, while eyeing boys sitting at the other tables. One girl next to Esmeray told her that she thought that Xiang Wu was staring at Esmeray. Esmeray peered at the fellow Tigrova six year. Although Esmeray was not quite sure that he was staring at her… she knew beyond a doubt that he was staring at someone at their table and she might as well find out who. Esmeray finished her glass before getting up and walking the sort distance to Xiang Wu. Esmeray could hear one girl speculate to the other that Esmeray going to ask Xiang Wu to dance. At this comment the Esmeray rolled her eyes. She had developed the reputation among her peers of being fearless. In truth she was not completely fearless, but at this moment she did not see the reason to be shy in front of boys. She figured if she found out who Xiang Wu was thinking about asking to dance it would get her friends dancing sooner.

“Hey Xiang Wu.” She said with a smile. Leaning on the back of a chair trying to be casual as possible. “Are you planning to ask anyone to dance to night?”

News that Durmstrang had up and moved to Sweden at the last possible minute was rippling through every table at the Dining Hall. Why so sudden? Did they know something that Koldovstoretz didn’t? Was there something more nefarious at hand? And why had they as Koldovstoretz students been told to dress formally for the feast? It felt very… odd.

Justýna was quiet through most of the early parts of the feast. She glanced up, interested, as Headmistress Demir introduced Minister Krupin and announced a dance at the conclusion of the feast. Well, that certainly answered her question about attire.

“I look forward to focusing the Ministry’s resources on a school that makes students of all backgrounds feel safe and secure…”

The Snegvoin smiled inwardly at this not-so-masked dig at Durmstrang. The Minister was correct, of course. No one Third Year and above needed reminding of the unsafety and insecurity they’d felt during the merge just two short years ago…

The Minister raised his glass, and Justýna did not hesitate to raise hers in turn for the toast. However, she couldn’t help but think about the small handful of friends she’d made at Durmstrang – and, of course, Marek. The Rayasov sighed, absently spearing a potato. Ever since ‘the incident’, their relationship had been different. The End-of-Term events two years ago had seemed to bring them together again, if only for a little while; but dissenting politics were becoming an increasingly prominent issue between the two schools. She wasn’t quite sure what to think anymore.

As the feast ended, Justýna saw Esmeray approach the Rayasov table in her peripheral vision, apparently making a beeline for Xiang Wu who was seated a few places to her right. Justýna watched the pair absently for a few moments, then let her gaze pan the hall. It was decorated magnificently, no doubt. Her focus drifted off towards the Tigrova table, where Esmeray had just come from, looking for Anders. She allowed herself a small smile. Perhaps she could convince her friend to liven up and dance with her for a bit tonight.

The summer holidays were fun because she now had more things that she could talk about with her sister. From the classes she took to the friends she had made, she understood why Justýna was the way she was before every time she returned from school. It must have been hard to not have someone to gush with about whatever that had happened in school and truly understood it all. Sure, a nagging voice at the back of Milana’s mind was a little bummed at how she couldn’t answer some of the questions in her exams and gotten an unsatisfactory N for all of her subjects (except one) despite studying hard for the exam weeks before. But she was not the type to easily give up especially if it was something that she could achieve… eventually. She just needed to put in more effort, right?

Right!

The Zhivoystya table – at least those seated close to Milana – erupted in excited whispers when it was announced that Durmstrang had moved to Sweden. Frankly, she didn’t understand the rivalry between the two schools because she was fortunate enough to not bump into and interact with anyone from Durmstrang. She didn’t dwell too long on the issue when she heard that the dinner would end with some dancing and felt her face warm up as she subtly threw a glance in the direction of the 4th year senior in her house that she took a liking. They hadn’t exchanged a single word with each other but they had exchanged smiles whenever they passed by each other or whenever he caught her staring at him from across the common room. Milana was not infatuated with him to the point where she expected something to happen between them. She was merely attracted to some of his qualities that she lacked such as his intelligence, grace and athleticism. Bonus points to him for being a total eye candy too.

Her attention returned to the headmistress and the Minister of Magic, Kasimir Krupin. She felt like she can sort of relate with him since she also had no idea what was going on despite growing up in a magic filled household. There was a stark difference between performing the magic herself and being surrounded by it; and she was unfortunate enough to discover her abilities rather late. Milana eagerly picked up her glass when he proposed a toast, accidentally sloshing the liquid within it and spilling some on her clothes – that were once her sister’s – and earning laughter from her friends. She hoped that her crush hadn’t seen her little clumsy move but realistically speaking, since they shared a common room, he had probably witnessed most if not all of her clumsiness episodes.

Milana slid down her seat a little as she sipped her drink, her face heating up and feeling a little shy at the sudden realization. The feeling went as sudden as it came and she sat up a little straighter, scanning the crowd for her sister. It would be weird but she wondered if she would dance with her for fun! She was proud that @Justýna Tesaříková was made a Snegvoin yet again! Part of her wondered if she would ever become one but on second thought, it sounded like a huge responsibility and Milana didn’t feel like she could juggle that on top of her studies and social activities. She hoped that her sister was not burning herself out!